Safety-valve.



No. 705,572. Patented July 29, I902.

W; 0. FIELD. SAFETY VALVE.

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1902.) (No Model.)

Jig-1 5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM C. FIELD, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, AS SIGNOR OF THREE-FIFTHS TO WILLIAM T. DELAHUNTY AND WILLIAM A. SHORE, OF DECATUR,

ILLINOIS.

SAFETY-VA LVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 705,572, da ed y 1902' Application filed Marchtl, 1902. Serial ND- 100,881. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. FIELD, of Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use{ ful Improvements in Safety-Valves of which the following is a full, clear, and exactidewill close and shut off the flow of gas or vola tile fluid as soon as the heat becomes excessive, all of which is hereinafter morepartieularly described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a valve embodying 2 5 the features of my invention, the same being shown as open. Fig. 2 is a like view showing said valve closed; and Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of a building, showing the manner in which said valve may be applied in connection with an ordinary gas-service pipe.

Referring to the drawings, a represents the shell of the improved valve, which is provided with internally-threaded nipples b o for the reception of induction and eductionpipes. 3 5 A web having the parts 02 e serves to divide the interior of the valve into two chambers f g. Avalve-seat h is interposed between the parts d e, the former of which extends from the lower portion of the shell upwardly and the latter from the upper portionof theshell downwardly to the middle of the chamber, where they unite in said valve-seat, as shown. An annular flange 2' is preferably provided below said valve-seat. A fitting j isformed on the top of the shell, into which is tapped a large plug is, preferably hollow, having a web Z in its lower end, which is bored to receive and form a guide for the upwardly-projecting stem m of a valve 11. A spring 0 tends to force said valve upon its seat.

said projection 19, which bore is coincident with the axis of the valve 12 and is adapted to receiveand serve as a-guide for a small stem 1*, which forms the lower valve-stem and extends outside of the easing into a chamber 8,

formedwithin a hollow nipple 25, cast upon the lower portion of the shell a. Said nipple is exteriorly threaded to receive a cap to, open at the bottom, but provided with a flange o, between which and the lower end of the nipple is placed a disk 10 of any well=known fusible material or alloy adapted to fuse ata low temperatu re, the diameter of which disk is smaller than that of the interior of the cap it, so as to prevent contact therewith around its edges. Annular washers w a: of compressed fiber or other non-conductin g material are placed, as shown, upon opposite sides of the disk to to separate the latter from said metal nipple and cap. A small piece 3 of a like insulating or nonconducting material is interposed between the disk to and the lower end of the stem 7'. The objectof employing said part y, as well as the washers o: m, and of making the diameter of the disk to smaller than that of the cap 12 is to prevent any cooling effect upon the disk as a direct result of metallic contact.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the manner in which my improved safety-valve is intended to be applied. In said view 2 represents the outer wall of a building, within which is located the usual gas-meter e. In the servicepipe 2 leading from the streetto the meter and between said outer wall and the meter, is interposed my improved safety-"valve a, so that in the event of a fireoccuring within the building the heat will cause said-valve to close, thereby shutting off the gas from the building.

IOO

The operation of my improved valve is as follows: The fusible disk being inserted in position, as shown in Fig. 1, and held in place by means of the cap u, the valve n is held thereby normally open, so that the gas is free to pass through it in the manner indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. Should any moisture accumulate within the valve, it willlie around the base of the stud 19, which prevents it from entering the chamber 3. Otherwise it might enter said chamber and tend to cool the disk to and prevent it from being so readily affected by the heat. In case of a fire the fusible disk w melts as soon as the requisite temperature is attained, thereby releasing the valve-stem 0, which is held upwardly thereby against the action of the spring 0, and closing the valve.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. The combination with a safety-valve, of a spring for closing said valve, a protruding valve-stem, a disk of fusible solder located outside of said valve to serve as a rest for said valve-stem for holding the valve normally open against the action of said spring,

and non-conducting material interposed between said disk and the metal with which it would otherwise be brought into contact, whereby the cooling action of the adjacent metal upon said disk may be obviated, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a safety-valve of a spring for closing said valve, a protruding valve-stem, a disk of fusible solder located outside of said valve to serve as a rest for said valve-stem for holding the valve normally open against the action of said spring, rings of non-conducting material located upon opposite sides of said disk to separate the same from its metallic support and non-conducting materialinterposed between said disk and valve-stem, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of March, 1902.

WILLIAM C. FIELD.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. SHoRB, ALLERTON S. FREEMAN. 

